The words of the Hail Mary — undoubtedly the most recognizable Catholic prayer after the Lord’s Prayer — are deeply rooted in scripture. The opening lines of the prayer are taken from the words of the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation — “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.” This line is known as the Angelic Salutation. The following words — “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus” — echo the sentiments expressed by Elizabeth at the Visitation.

The Angelic Salutation is regarded as the earliest devotional prayer to Mary, since it forms the very first words spoken to her as the Mother of God, but Catholics did not begin to utilize the Hail Mary prayer in its current form until around the 11th century.

An in-depth explanation of each line of this prayer is provided in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2676-2677.

©LPi

Hail Mary provided by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.